Shoe last



E. BROBERG 1,887,116

SHOE LAST Nov. 8, 1932.

Filed May 18, 1931 Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED'- STA/ras;

PATENT oF-FICE ELMER BROBERG, OIFy ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ELCOTOOL & SCREW` CORPORATION, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS suon LAST Application fuea may 1s,i931. serial No. 538,056.

The invention relates generally to shoe lasts and more particularly to shoe lasts having means for fastening heel parts thereto.

It is common practice in the manufacture of shoes to fasten heels to the last by means of a conventional wood screw, but because of wear incident to repeated use, the screw becomes dull and wears until it is no longer fit for service.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a last having improved heel fastening means permitting of the quick and easy replacement of the screw.

More specifically stated, it is an object of the invention to provide a heel fastening means comprising a screw retaining bushing removably secured in the last by means operable from an external part of the last to release said bushing and thereby permit 2O renewal of the screw.

' Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the aeompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of a shoe last embodying a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view looking at right angles to the View shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view generally similar to Fig. 1 but showing the connecting means-in retracted position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the invention in its preferred form is embodied in a shoe last comprising a body section 10 to which a heel 11 is secured by the improved connecting means generally indicated at 12. The body of the last is customarily provided with a metallic bottom plate 13 rigidly secured in position by means such as screws 14.

The heel fastening lmeans is carried in an elongated vertical bore formed in the body of the last and having a reduced upper end 15. The fastening screw, designated 16,

which serves to detachably connect the heel to the body is guided for longitudinal movement by means of a bushing 17 which is adapted to be received in the lower enlarged end 18 of the bore. A shoulder 19 formed by the relatively greater diameter of the bore section 18 serves to provide an 'abutting stop against whichthe upper end of the bushing engages. With its upper end in contact with the before-mentioned shoulder, the lower end of the bushing is disposed substantially n flush with the lower edge of the bottom plate 13. The head 2O of the screw 16 is slidably received in a central section 21 ofthe bore, the diameter of which is intermediate that of the upper end 15 and the enlarged lower end 18; f

Means is provided to normally move the screw 16 to retracted position as indicated in Fig. 3, and in the present embodiment of the invention such means comprises a coiled spring 22 surrounding the screw and acting between the underside `of its head 20 and a shoulder 23 formed in an axial counter bore 24 in the upper end of the bushing 17. Upward movement of the connecting screw 16 under the influence of the spring 22 islimited by a shoulder 25 formed at the upper end of the central bore section 21. Vhen the'connecting screw is retracted so that its head abuts the shoulder 25, its lower end subsantially inthe plane of the lower surface of the plate 13 as shown in Fig. 3, thus permitting of the removal of the last from the shoe. f

The bushing 17 and its associated connect-`v ing screw 16 are removably secured in the bore section 18 by manipulative means operable from a point outside the last and without removing the face plate 13. To this end, one or, if desired, two diametrically opposed arcuate notches 26 are formed adjacent the upper end of the bushing, the respective axes of the notches extending substantially ytransversely of the axis of the bushing. A

pair of spaced parallel holes 27 formed in the ody section of the last and extending transversely of and tangentially intersecting the bore section 18 are adapted to receive similar members 28 preferably in the form of 95 screws which cooperate with the notches 26 of the bushing 17 to rigidly retain the latter against rotation and longitudinal displacement relative to the body 10 of the last.

The screws 28 are adjustablypositionedivle in their respective bores by threaded engagement with similar bushings 29 fitted in counterbores 8O of the bores 27. When the screws 28 are in assembled relation with the last, their headed ends 81 are received in shallow counterbores 32, and are readily accessible for removal or ladjustment from the external surface of the assembled last.

It will be apparent that the bushing and its associated fastening screw may be inserted in the lower end of the bore with its notches 26 registering with the transverse holes 27, after which the screws 28 may be threaded into place to rigidly and non-rotatably position the bushing relative to the body of the last. The screw 16 will normally be retained in upper or retracted position as is indicated in Fig. 3 under the iniuence of the spring 22. In attaching a heel to the last, the parts are alined as indicated in Fig. 3 after which a tool may be inserted through the upper end 15 of the vertical bore to drive the screw to the position indicated in Figs. l and 2.

rIhe bushing may be readily removed and the screw 16 quickly replaced by first removing the screws 28 which can be accomplished either in the assembled or disassembled condition oi the last.

I claim as my invention:

l. A shoe last comprising, in combination, a body to which a` heel is adapted to be detachably connected, means to detachably connect said body to the heel including1 a bushing with a transverse notch in its periphery, said body having a bore adapted to receive .said bushing, a headed screw, the body of which is slidably received in said bushing with its head slidably positioned in said bore, a spring tending to move said screw to a retracted position, said body having a second bore extending transversely of and intersecting said first mentioned bore, and a screw entered in said second bore and movable into engagement with the notch in the bushing to lock the bushing against longitudinal movement relative to said body.

2. A shoe last comprising, in combination, i

a body to which a heel is adapted to be detachably connected, and heel-fastening means including a bushing, said body havn ing an upright bore adapted to receive said bushing, a screw slidable in said bushing, and manually operable means mounted in said body and accessible from the outside thereoic to engage said bushing tangentially and retain the latter in a longitudinally immovable position relative to said section.

3. A shoe last comprising, in combination,

a body to which a heel is to be detachably connected and having a plate member' rigid therewith, and heel-fastening means including a bushing, said body having a bore adapted to receive said bushing, said body plate having a hole in registration with said bore,` 

